Norwest has invested $1.5 million each in Hyderabad-based Multiplier Solutions and Bengaluru-headquartered ABI Health, and the anticipated merger of both B2B ventures is expected to take place over the next 12-18 months.

While such early-stage transactions are a rarity for Norwest Venture Partners in India, which typically begins with ticket sizes of $5-6 million, it is even rarer for VC firms in the country to scout for, and invest in, startups with the intent of merging them, as part of its long-term strategy.

"Both, Multiplier and ABI provide innovative patient engagement and collaboration solutions to healthcare providers... Together, they provide a suite of products for connecting hospitals, laboratories, medical clinics, doctors and patients into a network."

Founded by IIM Calcutta and SP Jain alumna, Vikram Kumar and Saumya Prakash in 2013, Multiplier Solutions works with leading hospitals diagnostics chains, clinics, and offers a product platform that integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning that claims to provide improved diagnostics as well as predicting clinical outcomes.

The company, which has about 50 employees, and has a presence in India’s top metros, earns revenue through a subscription-based model, based on the requirements of the customers.

Separately, ABI Health, a four year-old Bengaluru-based, health exchange and image management cloud software provider, also operates in the US and in Peru. The startup has its own imaging suite, called Spectra, which connects all stakeholders — doctors, hospitals and patients.

“We are moving away from the traditional markets, where you have your films or CDs, to the cloud and web completely. There is no need for huge investments in hardware and software. We take care of the entire image management for a hospital or a network of hospitals,” Ajit Veerappan, founder and managing director, ABI Health, told ET.

According to the University of Warwick alum, ABI Health, which has a SaaS-based revenue model, also works with consumer devices manufacturers and a telecom operator that have healthcare services on the cloud, as part of their data rollout. He, however, declined to share the names citing confidentiality agreements signed with them.

Both entrepreneurs are on board for the impending merger, and have begun collaborating on various projects.

“It’s already happening in the US, and the merger will be a definitive step in us pioneering this step in India. We can do much more together, as one single unit. There’s a much larger game to play, and a much larger problem can be solved,” Kumar told ET.

"We are moving away from the traditional markets, where you have your films or CDs, to the cloud and web completely. There is no need for huge investments in hardware and software. We take care of the entire image management for a hospital or a network of hospitals," Ajit Veerappan, founder and managing director, ABI Health, told ET.

According to the University of Warwick alum, ABI Health, which has a SaaS-based revenue model, also works with consumer devices manufacturers and a telecom operator that have healthcare services on the cloud, as part of their data rollout. He, however, declined to share the names citing confidentiality agreements signed with them.

Both entrepreneurs are on board for the impending merger, and have begun collaborating on various projects.

"It's already happening in the US, and the merger will be a definitive step in us pioneering this step in India. We can do much more together, as one single unit. There’s a much larger game to play, and a much larger problem can be solved," Kumar told ET.